Residents of Ikot Ebekpo, Ikot Ebidang, and Ikot Annang in Akwa Ibom State are raising alarm over gas flaring near their homes.
They report worsening health conditions, environmental damage, and what they describe as regulatory failure.
Some homes are located just 118 metres from flare stacks. Community members say constant burning exposes them to heat, soot, and pollution.
They report heat rashes, coughing, corroded roofing sheets, declining crop yields, and dwindling fish populations.
Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act prohibits gas flaring except in emergencies or with formal exemptions. Residents are asking whether such exemptions exist and under what safeguards.
The asset is owned by NNPC Exploration and Production Limited and operated by Natural Oilfield Services Limited, a Sterling Oil subsidiary, under a 15-year agreement.
Sterling Oil has said it holds approvals and will meet with community representatives.
Residents insist engagement is not enough. They demand enforcement, compensation, medical support, and environmental mitigation.
Attempts to get clarification from regulators have yielded little response. NNPC Ltd did not comment, while NUPRC and NOSDRA declined to provide details.
Data from NOSDRA shows that between May 2024 and January 2026, operators at the Utapate field flared about 12.5 million standard cubic feet of gas worth $43.7 million.
By some estimates, this volume of gas could power hundreds of thousands of households annually.
However, the communities say their immediate concern is public health. Vulnerable groups, including children and pregnant women, are more at risk.
They are calling for the publication of any flare permits, independent air and water testing, buffer zones, mobile health clinics, and compensation for damaged livelihoods.
State authorities are being asked to treat the matter as a public health emergency.
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